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the diseases included under the heading of " puerperal
fever " by the Registrar-General, viz. :—
" Both peritonitis and metritis, when occurring in connection
with parturition, as well as puerperal pyaemia, puerperal
septicaemia, and puerperal sapraemia."
It would have been competent for the Vestry to take the necessary
steps in the direction indicated, so far as Bethnal Green is concerned,
but since the matter is one of Metropolitan interest it was
felt that the proper body to deal with it is the London County
Council; and it now remains to be seen what action that authority
will take.
I sent a copy of the above report to the Editor of the British
Medical Journal, and in a recent issue the recommendation is quoted
in full with the following observations :—
PUERPERAL FEVER AND NOTIFICATION.
The Bethnal Green Vestry, acting doubtless on the advice of
Dr. Bate, their medical officer of health, have passed the
following resolutions :—
"That considerable uncertainty exists as to what diseases
should be reported to the medical officer of health under
Section 55 of the Public Health (London) Act as ' the fever
known as puerperal" ; they have also ascertained that,
owing to its indefinite meaning, the term ' puerperal fever '
has been expunged from the official nomenclature of diseases,
and therefore recommend that the London County
Council be requested to take the necessary steps under
Section 56 (6) of the Public Health (London) Act, to add
to Section 55 (8) of the same Act the names of the diseases
included under the heading of puerperal fever by the
Registrar-General, namely, Both peritonitis and metritis,
when occurring in connection with parturition, as well as
puerperal pyaemia, puerperal septicaemia, and puerperal
sapraemia.' " Many persons think that the inclusion of
puerperal fever among those diseases, notice of which must
be given by the practitioner to the medical officer of health,